Aging and Cortical Excitability

Aging Clinical Trial

— ACE  

Official title:

Effects of Aging on Cortical Excitability During Motor Learning

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Active, not recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT03750903
• Other study ID #: E2619-R
• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Phase: Phase 1
• Start date: March 4, 2019
• Est. completion date: September 30, 2024

Study information

• Verified date: October 2023
• Source: VA Office of Research and Development
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The objective of the current proposal is to identify 1) how aging-related changes in GABAergic cortical inhibition affect motor performance, and 2) how aerobic exercise may improve inhibitory function and facilitate motor learning.

Description:

The current proposal seeks quantify neural inhibition using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in older Veterans to identify how each measures contributes to aging-related changes in motor performance. Currently, over 56% (11.8 million) of Veterans are over age 60. Recent research has shown that aging is associated with decreased cortical inhibition and impaired hand motor function. However, this loss of inhibition is not an inescapable consequence of aging. The investigators' previous work that healthy older adults who engage in regular physical activity show increased cortical inhibition and improved dexterity as compared to their sedentary age cohort. This indicates that aerobic training may reverse aging related changes in cortical inhibition and alteration of tonic levels of cortical excitability can have a powerful impact on motor performance in the aging brain. In the current proposal, the investigators will enroll older adults to assess how different measurements (TMS and MRS) of the dominant inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain - GABA differ in relation to motor control. During the MRS scan, participants will perform a motor learning task to assess change in GABA level throughout the acquisition session. These data will be compared with measures of cortical inhibition using TMS to quantify neurotransmitter receptor activity with respect to aging-related changes in motor performance. The investigators will also be comparing the effects of an aerobic exercise intervention as compared to a contact matched stretching control. The investigators believe this project is the first inquiry of its kind and will have an important impact in the understanding of aging-related neurophysiological changes in the brain and how it can remediate associated behavioral declines.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Enrollment: 30
• Est. completion date: September 30, 2024
• Est. primary completion date: September 30, 2023
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 50 Years to 85 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• living persons aged 50-85

Exclusion Criteria:

• unmanaged diabetes

• participants completing vigorous exercise per week

• participants whose profession requires vigorous physical labor

• contraindication to magnetic resonance imaging

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Aging

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Aerobic Exercise
Participants will engage in an aerobic exercise program meeting thrice weekly for a period of 12 weeks.
• Stretching and Balance Training
Participants will engage in a balance and stretching comparator condition meeting thrice weekly for 12 weeks.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	Atlanta VA Medical and Rehab Center, Decatur, GA	Decatur	Washington

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
VA Office of Research and Development

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy	Measuring changes in dynamic magnetic resonance spectroscopy of primary motor cortex during motor learning.	Pre/Post 12 week intervention
Secondary	Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation	Measure changes in TMS measures of cortical excitability pre/post intervention.	Pre/Post 12 week intervention